Jeep

The 1945 Willys “Universal Jeep,” was the first mass-produced civilian four-wheel-drive vehicle. Its roots stretched directly back to 1944, when Willys-Overland, primary builder of the wartime Jeep, started shaping prototypes for a commercial model. Known as the CJ, short for “civilian Jeep,” it evolved straight from the military MB but introduced key changes such as a tailgate, side-mounted spare, civilian lighting, and a more durable drivetrain suited to long-term use rather than wartime lifespans. From that point forward, the CJ series evolved steadily while sticking to a familiar formula: a body-on-frame layout, live axles with leaf springs, a fold-flat windshield, and open bodies that could be run without doors. Most models used part-time four-wheel drive with high and low ranges and offered removable soft or hard tops.

The 1954 Willys CJ-5 (after 1964 Jeep CJ-5) was influenced by the new corporate owner Kaiser and the Korean War M38A1 Jeep. It was intended to replace the CJ-3B, but that model continued in production. The CJ-5 repeated this pattern, continuing in production for three decades while three newer models appeared. The 1972 model year brought significant changes to the CJ-5. American Motors began fitting its own engines, which also required changes to both body and chassis. Introduced in 1953 as the military M170 jeep ambulance, the civilian Willys Jeep CJ-6 made its debut in 1955 as a 1956 model. It is a version of the CJ-5, stretched by 51 cm., giving it a longer wheelbase. The extended chassis allowed a variety of configurations, including adding a second row of seats. Never very popular in the United States, most of CJ-6 production was exported to Sweden and South America. The 1976 Jeep CJ-7 featured a wheelbase 25 cm. longer than that of the CJ-5, with its curved side entry cutouts partially squared up to accommodate hinged doors. During eleven years of production, a total of 379,299 units were built.